Morris prepares for 'Frankenstorm'

Tropical-winter mix targets N.J.

Oct. 25, 2012

The predicted path of Hurricane Sandy / NOAA

How to prepare for the storm

Prepare for Power Outages: Check your property for trees and limbs which could fall and damage your home or fall on utility lines leading to your home and have them removed Stock Emergency supplies: Batteries for flashlights and a portable radio. Bottled water, canned food, juice and a manual can opener Candles and a safe holder. Matches or a butane barbecue lighter Cash or traveler’s checks (Debit cards and the ATM may be useless in a major power outage) Cellphones fully charged Charcoal grill and briquettes Directory of important telephone numbers Disposable plates, cups and utensils Extra set of keys Fill bathtub with water for flushing toilet Fire extinguisher First-aid kit Generator Personal hygiene items or baby items Pet food Propane for your gas barbecue grill Plastic bucket and garbage bags Supply of ice in your freezer Food Safety: Keeping your perishables safe even in the cold weather becomes an issue. Freeze zip-loc bags of water in advance or purchase bags of ice to keep food cold in the freezer or refrigerator. Group foods together in the freezer. Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately to keep them at a safe temperature longer. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers. Know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased. Have a relocation plan: You may be informed by local officials or the Emergency Notification System when sheltering is available. Pack a suitcase to take to a shelter. Personal items might include: eyeglasses, special foods, prescription medications, hygiene items, baby supplies, reading material, etc. Have a prearranged family meeting place away from home. Have a plan for your pets. Be aware of the school policy for releasing children during inclement weather. 911: If you have an emergency that requires first aid, fire or police, dial 911. In the event of a telephone outage and you do not have a cellphone, go or send someone to the nearest firehouse. Neighbor-to-Neighbor: Reach out! Be aware that you have neighbors who are elderly, live alone or may need assistance. Information courtesy of Kinnelon Emergency Management

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An unusual and powerful mix of a hurricane and a winter storm that forecasters are calling “Frankenstorm” likely will hit Morris County next week, according to meteorologists.

“The likelihood of the storm affecting our area has increased significantly over the past 24 hours,” Jeff Paul, director of the Morris County Office Of Emergency Management, said Thursday in a message that went out to agencies in the county. “We anticipate that the brunt of the storm will impact our area later Monday into Tuesday.”

The most serious concern appears to be the amount of rain and flooding the storm could produce. “Flash flooding is extremely likely, and record-level river flooding is possible,” Paul wrote.

Federal forecasters on Thursday upped the odds of a major weather mess hitting, saying there’s a 90 percent chance that the East will get steady gale-force winds, heavy rain, flooding and perhaps snow. Meteorologists say the storm is likely to cause $1 billion in damage.

The storm will be a combination of Hurricane Sandy, now in the Caribbean, an early winter storm in the West, and a blast of arctic air from the North. They’re predicted to collide and park over the country’s most populous coastal corridor and reach as far inland as Ohio.

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The hurricane part of the storm is likely to come ashore somewhere in New Jersey on Tuesday morning, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecaster Jim Cisco. But this is a storm that will affect a far wider area, so people all along the East have to be wary, Cisco said.

One of the messier aspects of the expected storm is that it just won’t leave.

The worst of it should peak early Tuesday, but it will stretch into midweek, forecasters say.

Weather may start clearing in the mid-Atlantic the day after Halloween and Nov. 2 in the Northeast, Cisco said.

Paul, in his note about Morris County, said that forecasts could change, but people should prepare for the potential impact.

“We encourage local municipalities to review your local Emergency Operation Plans and specifically to look at your local sheltering reception and care annex to insure that you have the appropriate arrangements in place to implement those plans, should the need arise.

Police departments around the county, including Parsippany, Morristown, Morris Township, Denville and Kinnelon, all sent out alerts to residents warning them about the storm and encouraging them to prepare.

“We are keeping a close eye on updates regarding Hurricane Sandy and will be posting updates relevant to our area as we receive them,” Parsippany Police Chief Anthony DeZenzo advised residents. “In the mean time, now is a good time to create or check your disaster supply kit and family disaster plan. Potential impacts of this storm are: flooding, debris, high winds, and power outages.”

Jersey Central Power & Light officials are monitoring the storm, according to Ron Morano, a company spokesman.

The utility company has also placed all employees on alert and is prepared to mobilize employees and resources where needed if Hurricane Sandy develops into a threat to the region, he said.

The Salvation Army said it already has begun to mobilize its emergency disaster forces to meet the needs of communities statewide.